NPR News Now - NPR News: 10-25-2025 8AM EDT

Episode Date: October 25, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. The Pentagon is again building up its military presence in the Caribbean region as it continues to attack vessels it alleges are carrying drugs. The U.S. military is sending the aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, as MPIRS. Tom Bowman reports. Pentagon spokesman, Sean Parnell, said the Ford will, quote, bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt elicit actors and activities. it compromises safety and prosperity of the United States. U.S. forces have already carried out 10 strikes on alleged drug vessels in the region, resulting in more than 40 dead.

Democrats and some Republicans have questioned President Trump's authority to order extrajudicial killings. Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro is accusing the U.S. of, in his words, fabricating a new war. Maduro has repeatedly accused the U.S. of attempting to drive him from power. Tensions also rising between the U.S. and Venezuela's neighbor, Colombia. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on President Gustavo Petro, his family, and his interior minister. Pressure is building on the Trump administration to keep funding food aid during the government shutdown.

NPR's Jennifer Lutton reports a sudden loss of money for the SNAP program would hurt not only families but also local economies. Members of Congress, state, and local officials have all urged the administration to not let $8 billion of SNAP funding end in November. Conference of Mayor says it's vital to local budgets and public health systems. Joel Berg with Hunger Free America says the money gets spent at 260,000 retailers. Farmers markets, big box stores, grocery stores are going to lose that income. I think some stores may actually be forced to lay off employees. Food policy experts say the Agriculture Department can and must use contingency funds to keep snap going.

The agency says there's not enough money and payments are. on hold. Jennifer Lutton in Peer News, Washington. Farmers and ranchers from several states have joined in a campaign to raise awareness about labor shortages they say are hurting family farms. Brad Bird of member station KTTZ reports a campaign highlights an issue that has producers and economists concerned about higher food prices. Zach Rutledge is an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural Food and Resource Economics at Michigan State University who spoke for the Grow It Here campaign. He says about half of U.S. farmers face some kind of labor shortage. This issue of the domestic labor supply has implications for U.S. consumers and also affects the trade balance in the U.S.

Farmers say lowering costs for employing temporary foreign workers could help, but some say they still rely on immigrants who can work year round. The U.S. Labor Department has warned that a worker shortage is, quote, threatening the stability of domestic food production and prices. For NPR news, I'm Brad Burt. This is NPR. President Trump is on his way to Malaysia, his first stop in a nearly week-long trip to the Indo-Pacific region. He's to meet with heads of state in Kuala Lumpur during the annual summit of Southeast Asian nations before traveling to Japan and Korea. But the main focus is on Trump's expected meeting next week with Chinese leader Xi Jinping amid trade war tensions. Game one of the World Series goes to the Toronto Blue Jays.

they beat the L.A. Dodgers 11 to 4 last night. More from Toronto and reporter Steve Futterman. The heavily favored L.A. Dodgers got a wake-up calling game one as they were pounded by the Toronto Blue Jays. The game was close, tied two to two until the sixth inning. That's when the Blue Jays exploded for nine runs. Four of the runs came on the first pinch hit Grand Slam home run in World Series history by Addison Barger. After the game, he said, he could hardly remember rounding the base. I don't know how to describe it. I mean, I couldn't feel my legs. I just kind of blacked out. Before the blowout in Toronto, the Dodgers had allowed just four runs and four games of the National League Championship Series.

For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman at the World Series in Toronto. Game two of the World Series is tonight in Toronto. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressing dismay at the arrest this week of nearly three dozen people, including Portland Trailblazers's head coach, Chauncey Billups. Miami Heat Player on gambling-related charges. Silver spoke last night on Amazon's debut NBA broadcast apologizing to fans and noting the arrests have overshadowed the league's opening week. This is NPR News.